Under the Radar 3YO’s –Ballarat

Story: Tara Madgwick – Breednet

At this time of year we find a lot of promising three year-olds popping up at provincial meetings as they seek to put runs on the board to earn a crack at spring Black Type and two such winners by Fastnet Rock and Choisir caught our eye at Ballarat on Monday, both fillies entered for the Group I MRC Thousand Guineas.

Isa Rocket as a yearling

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable sent out the favourite in the first race and Fastnet Rock filly Isa Rocket duly saluted with a comfortable win in the 1000 metre maiden, scoring by more than a length.

It was the first run back from a spell for Isa Rocket, who was fourth on debut at Moonee Valley in February and then unplaced in a Listed race before going to the paddock.

A $360,000 Magic Millions purchase for Blue Sky Bloodstock from the Segenhoe Stud draft, Isa Rocket was bred by Segenhoe and runs in their colours. She is the second winner from Angel Bee, a Group III placed Pins mare from Group III winner Zabeel’s Angel.

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable also sent out promising Choisir filly Snapdancer, who was a hot favourite in the 1200 metre maiden and cruised clear to win by nearly two lengths.

Snapdancer as a yearling

A $180,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Sledmere Stud draft for Spicer T’Breds/Darren Weir Racing, Snapdancer was second on debut at the same venue on August 1 when she did plenty wrong, but looked a real professional this time around.

Snapdancer was a successful pinhook having been bought by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock for $60,000 from the Coolmore draft at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale as a weanling.

Snapdancer is a three-quarter sister to Group III placed Drago and is the sixth winner from Galileo mare Snapdragon (IRE), who comes from the family of Group I Italian Derby winner In a Tiff.

Snapdragon was bought by Aquis in 2018 for $60,000 and produced a full brother to Snapdancer last spring and was then covered by Choisir’s Group I winning son The Mission, who stands at Aquis at a fee of $13,200.